GDT: Sabres @ Stars, Dec 31, 2024 - 8:00PM, MSG 📺, WGR550 📻 🎙

[Kristian]

5 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

This was only close because of UPL so I guess you can say that at least we seem to have a good goalie going forward. That's something. 

Easiest position to build around, if you got the goalie, I suppose. So theres that.

[PickaPecaPickles]

7 hours ago, Sidc3000 said:

I’m sure he is begging his agent to get the hell out of Buffalo

He's got the best of both worlds.  On the one hand, this may be the only place he will get significant time on the first line, boosting his stat line to one of his best (he won't reach his "Cozens year" of 2017/18), which also makes him much more valuable($$) next year; on the other, he will certainly be a strong candidate to trade in the spring, and I'm sure he'd be very happy if he got the Okopso treatment since he's never won a cup.

[French Collection]

7 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Don't worry he'll be traded at the deadline for a 2nd rd pick in 2029.

TP will open the wallet, retain 25%, and turn it into a 2028 2nd rounder.

[LGR4GM]

What if,  and stay with me,  we don't trade Zucker and let him continue to be a vet leader in the youngest team? Like we just don't sell at the deadline. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

6 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

What if,  and stay with me,  we don't trade Zucker and let him continue to be a vet leader in the youngest team? Like we just don't sell at the deadline. 

lol.  As if KA and TP would allow a money saving opportunity to evade them.  

 

19 minutes ago, French Collection said:

TP will open the wallet, retain 25%, and turn it into a 2028 2nd rounder.

Not happening unless they have to retain to get a deal done.  The object is save as much money as possible.  
 

Joki is going also to save additional money and make room for younger players.  Don’t want to block anyone.

Adam’s real goal is to field the youngest roster every year for a decade so he has a built in excuse for never succeeding in his job.  

 

Edited Wednesday at 02:26 PM by GASabresIUFAN

[LTS]

13 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

What if,  and stay with me,  we don't trade Zucker and let him continue to be a vet leader in the youngest team? Like we just don't sell at the deadline. 

My assumption is that Adams will do whatever Zucker wants. While Adams could refuse to move Zucker it would only add to the stigma of players not wanting to be in Buffalo. It seems like it can't get worse, but it can. Buffalo at least is known to move the veterans for playoff opportunities. This at least helps some vets sign a 1 year deal here.

This game went the way I would expect. This continues to be a poorly coached team and their inexperience needs much better coaching to improve. They continue to be let down by every player who was given an "A" in the leadership group.

I'm glad USA vs. Canada was on. That was far more entertaining and about midway through the Sabres game I was predominantly watching USA and then flipping back to the Sabres during breaks.

 

[SwampD]

18 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

What if,  and stay with me,  we don't trade Zucker and let him continue to be a vet leader in the youngest team? Like we just don't sell at the deadline. 

Or, and stay with me, the kids figure it out, and we’re buyers at the deadline, and we get another vet leader to make a real push into the playoffs.

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Or, and stay with me, the kids figure it out, and we’re buyers at the deadline, and we get another vet leader to make a real push into the playoffs.

[Archie Lee]

If we had given Zucker a 2 year deal we might have been able to get him at a lower AAV. Maybe I’m wrong on that and Zucker has just decided to be a mercenary and go to the highest one year bidder. But if he likes it here maybe he would now accept a 2x$4million deal, saving some money to put towards a different need. 

[SwampD]

11 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

You insulted me with your gif. You must be some beta, just agreeing with all the other betas.

😂

[LGR4GM]

11 minutes ago, SwampD said:

You insulted me with your gif. You must be some beta, just agreeing with all the other betas.

😂

Wish I was a Beta, more like an Omega though. 

[mjd1001]

7 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

This was only close because of UPL so I guess you can say that at least we seem to have a good goalie going forward. That's something. 

I hope so. But at the end of last season, I thought the exact same thing. Then this year, UPL started out pretty badly.

Before 'bashing' his play below, let me say I think he is one of the 3 most important players on this team.  I think he can be a top 10 goalie in the league medium term. At the start of LAST year I think I was one of the very few on here who wanted Levi in the minors and UPL as the starter. I like him. I want him on this team and for him to continue to get the majority fo the starts.

But He has been pretty bad for most of the season though.  One could say that among many reasons, his sub-par play on many nights is one of the top 3 reasons the team is as far back in the standings as they are.

Last year he had a .910 save percentage with a 2.57 GAA. That was with a shaky start. Once he became the full time goalie, he played better than his full year numbers.  Many of us assumed now that he was the 'starter', he would continue the pace of last year right into this year.

  Some of the advanced numbers back up the 'eye test' (at least for me). Hes not facing a lot more overall shots this year per game than last year (27.2 vs 27.6 per game) or even if you want to break it down, 'high danger' chances (7.3 per game vs 7.2 per game). If anything the slight difference says he faced more high danger shots against last year.

What is different is how he is playing overall.  My personal "eye test" told me that in the couple weeks before the losing streak and even through the losing streak, there were a lot of goals he let in that my impression was, afte watching the replay..."The team in front of him really did NOT hang him out to dry, I just need my goalie to make that save".  And the numbers last year compared to this year:  Overall save percentage 12 points lower this year. High danger save percentage 52 points lower this year than last year. This year 10% less of his starts feature him having a save percentage above .900.

As mentioned above, I don't think he is getting hung out to dry by his forwards and D-men as much as last year.  If he would just be matching his overall numbers from last year, he would have allowed 8-10 less goals than last year.  With him facing slightly less 'high danger' shots this year, maybe that number should be 10-12 less. Sprinkle those 10-12 less goals around all the games this year, and this team likely has a few more wins.

So I understand the point you and others are making. He seems to be turning his game around.  I think he is capable of that and I expect that. Its just frustrating.  Even with all the issues this year (Tage and Dahlin injuries, Cozens taking a WHILE to come around, Quinn and Peterka pulling disappearing acts for large portions of the season), with all that, UPL having played as well this year as last year probably has them fighting for that last playoff spot right now.

[Sidc3000]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

What if,  and stay with me,  we don't trade Zucker and let him continue to be a vet leader in the youngest team? Like we just don't sell at the deadline. 

He’s a UFA so there is no guarantee of him staying 

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, Sidc3000 said:

He’s a UFA so there is no guarantee of him staying 

[bob_sauve28]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

What if,  and stay with me,  we don't trade Zucker and let him continue to be a vet leader in the youngest team? Like we just don't sell at the deadline. 

In this scenario are we in the running for playoffs? 

If so, only if we reach some deal to sign him for next year. I mean, a second round pick can be very good. Just look at JJP 

[Sidc3000]

55 minutes ago, SwampD said:

Or, and stay with me, the kids figure it out, and we’re buyers at the deadline, and we get another vet leader to make a real push into the playoffs.

[Carmel Corn]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

What if,  and stay with me,  we don't trade Zucker and let him continue to be a vet leader in the youngest team? Like we just don't sell at the deadline. 

Possibly….it also makes me wonder about Greenway as well?

[LGR4GM]

43 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

In this scenario are we in the running for playoffs? 

If so, only if we reach some deal to sign him for next year. I mean, a second round pick can be very good. Just look at JJP 

I don't care what a 2nd round pick is doing for Buffalo in 2030. I want a veteran like zucker in that room as long as possible. 

2nd round picks are more likely to be asplund, Davidson, lamiuex, Bailey, weber

[Archie Lee]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

I hope so. But at the end of last season, I thought the exact same thing. Then this year, UPL started out pretty badly.

Before 'bashing' his play below, let me say I think he is one of the 3 most important players on this team.  I think he can be a top 10 goalie in the league medium term. At the start of LAST year I think I was one of the very few on here who wanted Levi in the minors and UPL as the starter. I like him. I want him on this team and for him to continue to get the majority fo the starts.

But He has been pretty bad for most of the season though.  One could say that among many reasons, his sub-par play on many nights is one of the top 3 reasons the team is as far back in the standings as they are.

Last year he had a .910 save percentage with a 2.57 GAA. That was with a shaky start. Once he became the full time goalie, he played better than his full year numbers.  Many of us assumed now that he was the 'starter', he would continue the pace of last year right into this year.

  Some of the advanced numbers back up the 'eye test' (at least for me). Hes not facing a lot more overall shots this year per game than last year (27.2 vs 27.6 per game) or even if you want to break it down, 'high danger' chances (7.3 per game vs 7.2 per game). If anything the slight difference says he faced more high danger shots against last year.

What is different is how he is playing overall.  My personal "eye test" told me that in the couple weeks before the losing streak and even through the losing streak, there were a lot of goals he let in that my impression was, afte watching the replay..."The team in front of him really did NOT hang him out to dry, I just need my goalie to make that save".  And the numbers last year compared to this year:  Overall save percentage 12 points lower this year. High danger save percentage 52 points lower this year than last year. This year 10% less of his starts feature him having a save percentage above .900.

As mentioned above, I don't think he is getting hung out to dry by his forwards and D-men as much as last year.  If he would just be matching his overall numbers from last year, he would have allowed 8-10 less goals than last year.  With him facing slightly less 'high danger' shots this year, maybe that number should be 10-12 less. Sprinkle those 10-12 less goals around all the games this year, and this team likely has a few more wins.

So I understand the point you and others are making. He seems to be turning his game around.  I think he is capable of that and I expect that. Its just frustrating.  Even with all the issues this year (Tage and Dahlin injuries, Cozens taking a WHILE to come around, Quinn and Peterka pulling disappearing acts for large portions of the season), with all that, UPL having played as well this year as last year probably has them fighting for that last playoff spot right now.

Luukkonen had his bad moments last year.  On balance though he was very good.  This year I think he has been mostly the same goalie, outside of the losing streak when the entire team was very bad.  In the middle of the streak, he lost his confidence in my view. The Sabres had bad stretches last year, but nothing like the recent losing streak.  My opinion is that the Sabres have clearly  been a worse team this year.  UPL does not entirely get let off the hook for his role in that, but he is near to the least of my worries.  I think over 1/2 of the league's teams would swap their current #1 for UPL without much hesitation. 

Also, not all high danger scoring chances are created equal. 

Edited Wednesday at 04:29 PM by Archie Lee

[SwampD]

1 hour ago, Sidc3000 said:

I have been yearning for the Sabres to be buyers at the trade deadline for over a decade. A guy can dream, can’t he?

[Believer]

Happy New Year all. Hoping 2025 is our turnaround year.

Missed the game last night, but GDT says UPL kept us it it. 

Still not shooting enough. Confounding. You have to believe Ruff sent them out in the 3rd with that order.

Three and out. Bummer.

Begin again! Go Sabres.

[Sidc3000]

14 minutes ago, SwampD said:

I have been yearning for the Sabres to be buyers at the trade deadline for over a decade. A guy can dream, can’t he?

True 😂

[Stoner]

18 minutes ago, SwampD said:

I have been yearning for the Sabres to be buyers at the trade deadline for over a decade. A guy can dream, can’t he?

A GM should always think outside the box and use every option to build his team. It's counterintuitive to buy when you're DFL, but it's an opportunity.

Alas we have the axis of evil TPKA.

[Archie Lee]

I maintain that Dallas is the most easily replicated model for us, based on our roster. 

UPL is Oettinger. 

Dahlin is Heiskanen.  Samuelsson could be Lindell.  Power or Byram are Harley.  5-7 level D-men like Dumba, Lundkvist, Lyubushkin, and Brendan Smith, are very attainable for the Sabres.

Up front, the Stars don't have a true-elite-level forward. The two big differences, in my view, are:

1.) They have three under 24 aged forwards on their roster and have used four on the year. Comparably we have six and have used eight.  

2.) They support their under 24 aged forwards with veterans who will take care of them and show them how to play and win in the NHL. 

The one other thing that separates us is coaching.  Ruff is ok/fine, but there were no contenders calling. If DeBoer was fired tomorrow, like Montgomery he would be hired by someone else within a week (if he wanted to be hired).  We are not likely getting an elite experienced coach to come here. We will need to settle for a Ruff-level veteran coach or take a chance on an assistant or AHL coach (I think Todd Nelson is an obvious choice for a coach who should get an opportunity).

A good GM working under a committed owner, could get us to Dallas-level within a year.

[mjd1001]

2 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

 

Also, not all high danger scoring chances are created equal. 

I agree with that.  That is why I'm not all in on advance stats.

But in this case they support what we see. It was before the losing streak, there were a lot of close-ish games the Sabres lost where when watching the goals, I would look at the replay and not really find a blatant error by the team in front of him. It was just that some shots, they may have been good shots by the opposing teams, but they should have been saves.

I know in the GDT's of many of those games, made posts after the goals were scored where I'm sure I said in the posts something like "I need my goalie to make that save".